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Top 10 female French directors to watch

With three female French directors in competition for the first time ever for the prestigious Best Director prize at the upcoming César film awards in France, it’s interesting to note Maiwenn, Emmanuelle Bercot and Deniz Gamze Ergüven are not the only woman producing quality films in what is usually a male-dominated industry.

Here are ten more female directors to watch out for.

Catherine Corsini – In a career spanning 33 years, Corsini has produced a number of memorable films including the thriller Trois Mondes with Raphaël Personnaz. Last year’s acclaimed, semi-autobiographical La Belle Saison. is nominated for several Prix Lumières at the upcoming ceremony – the French equivalent of The Golden Globes- including the prizes for Best Film and Best Director.

Céline Sciamma – After the success of her last film Bande de Filles, Sciamma is currently one of the most sought after directors in France. With only three full length features under her belt, she has already been nominated for 22 awards in numerous festivals around the world. She is also a screenwriter and collobarated recently with André Téchiné on the award-winning director’s 2014 film Quand on a 17 Ans.

Anne Le Ny – Since she stepped behind the camera in 2007, Le Ny has produced a string of hits including Les Invités de Mon Père, Cornouaille and On a Faille Etre Amies. Her directorial debut, Ceux Qui Restent, was nominated for a César for Best First Film in 2007

Liza Azuelos – Queen of the French romantic comedy, Azuelos directed the hugely popular LOL with Sophie Marceau which was turned into an American remake starring Demi Moore and Miley Cyrus. But her last feature Une Rencontre with the bankable Sophie Marceau and François Cluzet in the lead roles was a box-office flop.

Julie Delpy – Most well-known internationally for her role as Céline opposite Ethan Hawke in Richard Linkater’s ‘Before’ series, Delpy directed her first film in 2002, Looking for Jimmy and went on to make Two Days in Paris, La Comtesse, Skylab and Two Days in New York. She had a minor hit this year with Lolo starring French box-office gold Danny Boon.

Anne Fontaine – With over 20 years directing experience, Fontaine has produced 12 full length features including Gemma Bovery and Coco avant Chanel. Her latest film Les Innocents (Agnus Dei) premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival to great reviews and was hailed as her finest film for years.

Julie Lopes Curval -Lopes-Curval is a writer and director, known for Mères et filles (2009), Bord de mer (2002) which won the Camera D’Or at the 2002 Cannes film Festival and Le Beau Monde which garnered best newcomer awards at the 2015 Lumière awards ceremony for Ana Girardot and Bastien Bouillon

Tonie Marshall – Marshall is the only woman to win the César for Best Director for Vénus Beauté (institut) with Nathalie Baye and Audrey Tautou. Her last film 2014’s Tu Veux ou Tu Veux Pas enjoyed modest success at the French box-office box-office.

Jeanne Herry – Herry hit the ground running with her first film, the excellent Elle l’Adore with Laurent Lafitte and Sandrine Kiberlain in the lead roles. Cinema is in her blood as the daughter of French actress Miou Miou and actor/singer Julien Leclerc.

Valérie Donzelli – With only five films under her belt, Donzelli is gaining a reputation as an unusual and exciting director. Previous films include the deeply personal Declaration of War which took the Cannes Critics’ Week by storm in 2011, although her last film Marguerite et Julian was savaged by critics at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.